2018-12-19T10:23:01ZThe impact of online accounting software as a credit management tool on small business cash flowhttp://hdl.handle.net/10369/10060
The impact of online accounting software as a credit management tool on small business cash flow
Osinowo, Olamide
Late payments occur frequently amongst businesses, and poor credit management processes are part of the fundamental causes of late payment. However, small businesses lack sufficient debt collection procedures as they operate without a credit control department. As such, they tend to experience eccentrically late payments and defaults by debtors. This is a major concern for small business growth. Online Accounting Software is the latest development in management accounting and information systems, however, the leading vendors of this software claim that it can manage credit sales for small businesses and can help to improve their cash flow position. In addition, the software is distributed in a standard format and can be modified to include a credit management add-on (provided from other vendors) to further help small firms with their trade credit management efforts.
This study tests the claims of such standard software vendors in terms of the effectiveness of the standard software in helping to improve the cash flow of small firms. It also examines the extent to which small business respondents who have modified their standard software have experienced improvements to their cash flow using a unified framework; specifically the Credit Management Activity Model. A descriptive quantitative methodology using multivariate ordinal logistic (logit) regression was employed to analyse data which were collected using SPSS 24 with median-centered variables. The results showed that the standard software was very effective in terms of improving the cash flow of small firms, and this supports the claims of the vendors. Moreover, users of the standard software experienced delayed increases to their cash flows after the implementation of the software. Nonetheless, the modified software helped its users to cope with the increasing complexities of trade credit management.
This study has made trade credit management in small business to business relationships more understandable, and has also enriched the existing body of knowledge in relation to financial management information systems by providing information as to the use of Online Accounting Software using small businesses in the UK as a point of reference. Future research can investigate the relationship between Online Accounting Software and the length of the operating cycle of small businesses. Future research should also explore the impact of such software on short and medium-term productivity increases, and the control issues that emerge from the safety and security of business data in relation to this software.
PhD Thesis - School of Management
2018-01-01T00:00:00ZCan offensive advertising strategies survive the perceptions of the millennial muslims in Egypt?http://hdl.handle.net/10369/9936
Can offensive advertising strategies survive the perceptions of the millennial muslims in Egypt?
Ayad, Nihal Ismail Ahmed
This study explores what Millennial (Generation Y) Muslims in Egypt perceive as
offensive in offensive advertising and the reasons behind their offence. It aims to
define religiosity from their point of view and to investigate if it has an effect on
their attitudes and purchase intentions/behaviours. Therefore, the study raised
enquiries about key concepts such as the definition of offensive advertising,
attitudes towards offensive advertising, religiosity and behaviours of Millennial
Muslims in Egypt.
The researcher explores the Millennial Muslims perceptions and attitudes towards
offence, offensive advertising and religiosity through focus group discussions, oneto-
one interviews and solicited diaries. The research design used in the study is an
interpretivistic philosophy with an exploratory purpose, inductive approach and
grounded theory strategy.
The study revealed in-depth data concerning the Shababs’ profiles, characteristics,
personalities, views on religion and religiosity and their attitudes towards offensive
advertising. The research established that religiosity has no effect on the perceptions
or behaviours of the Millennial Muslims in Egypt since parental influence has the
greater effect even on their religiosity, which yielded two new behavioural models
pertinent to the Millennial Muslims in Egypt.
The Millennial Muslims in Egypt face depression caused by an identity crisis and an
inferiority complex. This depression created a new behaviour in the Millennial
Muslims in Egypt where offensive ads annoy/upset them but do not reach the
severity of offending them. Consequently, a new list of offensive advertising
themes/executions was created based on the Millennial Muslims perceptions of
provocative ads. Finally, practical implications were given with ideas for future
researchers.
PhD Thesis - School of Management
2017-01-01T00:00:00ZA case study of the application of long run incremental cost models in the jordanian telecommunications industry over the period 2006 - 2012: Performance, efficiency and implementation issueshttp://hdl.handle.net/10369/9935
A case study of the application of long run incremental cost models in the jordanian telecommunications industry over the period 2006 - 2012: Performance, efficiency and implementation issues
Jwaifel, Abdullah Mahmoud
The thesis examines the impact of the introduction, in 2009, of Long-Run Incremental Costing (LRIC) on the performance and efficiency of the wholesale market of the Jordanian Telecommunications Industry (JTI); an oligopoly industry composed of three, approximately equal sized firms, Orange, Umniah and Zain. Oligopolistic industries are associated with excess returns. The intention of the introduction of LRIC by the JTI regulator was to reduce excess returns and introduce a degree of competition.
The research examines the impact of LRIC on performance; comparing two periods pre LRIC 2006-2008 and post LRIC 2010-2012. The data set includes financial accounting data, gathered between 2013 and 2015, from published accounts and primary data drawn from surveys of managers in the three firms, the latter needed to overcome well-known issues of transparency and more importantly the firm’s concern with commercial sensitivity.
Analysis of the data revealed that adopting LRIC on pricing and costing apparently had significant impacts on performance; impact varied between measures; sales data (call traffic/volumes) were extrapolated and suggest some impact on competition and market share. Correlations between measures are interesting and not entirely of the order that theory would predict. One suggestion that emerges from correlation/covariance analysis is that performance and efficiency may be more reliably measured by composite measures than independent measures and that heat mapping comparative data is a useful management tool.
This thesis draws on a long tradition of cost and cost efficiency analysis in accounting and economics, culminating in the concept of LRIC, which is composed of both. LRIC is really a cost plus measure; an attempt to account for true opportunity costs in a situation where the marginal cost, in this case the cost of an additional call, simply as a variable cost is negligible (and falling with respect to the volume of traffic) but when full opportunity costs are taken into account, they are substantial.
IV
The data set (population data, JTI is made up of the 3 firms) includes variables grouped under the categories of financial, operational and competitiveness. Variables considered include; rates of return on assets, equity and sales; profit margin, earnings and revenue; capital expenditure; calculated price and cross elasticities, and sales. The data set includes published and unpublished data and data from fieldwork consisting of structured surveys with JTI managers, carried out in 2013-2015. Confidentiality concerns and transparency issues were addressed. This involved the researcher in extrapolation of data especially with reference to sales, mark-up and industry competition.
The academic contribution of this thesis is the measurement of the extent of the application of the LRIC model methodology in Jordanian telecommunication firms through tracking the application and development of LRMC through LRIC in a new context (Jordan). Additionally, the impact of the application of the LRIC model methodology on the financial performance of the Jordanian telecommunication firms will be analysed using financial performance indicators. Another expectation is the contribution of an important set of feasible recommendations on increasing the efficiency of the JTI, taking into account the Jordanian context (Economides et al. 2008).
This study has many implications. First, from the view point of the regulator (TRC), service providers, whether incumbent or new entrants can earn a sufficient profit to cover a reasonable share of their cost of capital (investments). As a result, the prices of the services provided will be fair and reasonable for consumers. From this viewpoint, the research recommends the continuation of the application of the LRIC model for costing and pricing telecommunications services in the Jordanian telecommunications industry (JTI). Second, from the view point of the regulator (TRC) services providers, whether incumbent or new entrants, can earn a reasonable and sufficient profit and normal return on capital sufficient to cover a reasonable share of common and fixed costs by using an equal proportionate mark-up (EPMU) approach. Also to cover the cost of new investments which meet the increasing demand for next generation technology. This research, therefore, recommends the ongoing application of the LRIC model for costing and pricing telecommunications services in the JTI.
V
Third, from the view point of the regulator (TRC) the efficiency of prices based on the LRIC model methodology may open the door for new entrants into the industry and also may lead to ensuring that incumbent and new entrants share fixed assets (network elements) with each other as well as encouraging competition. In addition, the efficiency of the LRIC prices will protect consumers’ interests by providing them with new technology at lower prices. Consequently, service providers, whether incumbent or new entrants can earn a reasonable and sufficient profit and normal return on capital sufficient to cover a reasonable share of common and fixed costs by using equal proportionate mark-up (EPMU) approach, and also to cover the cost of their new investments. Thus from this perspective, this research recommends the long-term application of the LRIC model for costing and pricing telecommunications services in the JTI.
PhD Thesis - School of Management
2017-01-01T00:00:00ZForeign Capital Flows and Economic Growth: A Cross Country Panel Analysishttp://hdl.handle.net/10369/9934
Foreign Capital Flows and Economic Growth: A Cross Country Panel Analysis
Ahmed, Md. Murad
Remittances, foreign direct investment (FDI), official development assistance (ODA) and long-term net private foreign currency loans (NPF) have dynamic impact to change a country’s economic growth. These forms of inward foreign capital have a direct impact on a country’s economic growth and development process, but their ability to change macroeconomics and trade generate concern over the ability to sustain long-term economic growth. The impact levels of remittance to economic growth, selected macroeconomic factors and trade balances are large and dynamic compared to FDI, ODA and NPF. However, comparing ODA with FDI, the former significantly reduces economic growth as well as reduces macroeconomic stability. Meanwhile, long-term private foreign currency loans (NPF) have had significantly positive impacts on economic growth and macroeconomic factors. Inward foreign capital can become a significant contributor to economic growth in developing countries, but it is dependent on institutional support and strong macroeconomic policy (fiscal and monetary) development. The results in this study are based on robust regression estimations including fixed, random, pooled OLS and IV models.
PhD Thesis - School of Management
2018-01-01T00:00:00Z